Life

History and Heritage at Inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Raleigh

The newest event on the IRONMAN 70.3 circuit captures an exciting fusion of rural roads, urban racing and historic sites for 2,300 competitors.

Part race, part historical tour, the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Raleigh follows a point-to-point bike course along rural roads and a run along stately oak-lined streets before finishing in the heart of a town renowned for its enthusiasm for world-class sporting events.

Competitors and their families can enjoy Raleigh's mix of modern amenities, southern hospitality and historic roots. Structures like the North Carolina Executive Mansion and Greek Revival North Carolina State Capitol building epitomize the history and culture of the city—while the nine colleges and universities in the area contribute to vibrant entertainment, festivals and nightlife.

Legh headlines men's field

The professional field will have to wait until after the race to take in the sights and sounds of the host city, since there will be plenty of competition to contend with on race day. Chris Legh headlines the men's field, fresh off a successful fifth-place return to IRONMAN racing (after a seven-year absence) at the IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship Melbourne in March. When healthy, Legh is always threat for the win at the 70.3 distance.

The Aussie will have a handful of veterans ready to challenge him for the victory. Michael Lovato (USA), Chris McDonald (AUS), Greg Bennett (AUS), TJ Tollakson (USA) and Rich Allen (GBR) will also be in the hunt for the win.

Women's podium picks

In the women’s race, Emma-Kate Lidbury (GBR) notched her first win of 2013 at IRONMAN 70.3 Texas. The 33-year-old has been piling wins on the circuit over the last 18 months, and will be one of the women to beat in Raleigh.

Jessica Jacobs (USA), Melanie McQuaid (CAN) and Tenille Hoogland will keep Lidbury on her toes, with proven records over the distance. Olympian Laura Bennett (USA) will be making a rare appearance racing at this distance. She has a stellar short course racing pedigree, which could make for interesting race dynamics in the women’s race.